Why Aren’t Power Lines Buried Underground?

By History of Simple Things

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You see power lines almost every day, but have you ever wondered why they are placed so high above the ground? It seems like a simple question. If electricity only needs a wire, why not put that wire closer to the ground? And why do some transmission towers stand incredibly tall while ordinary neighborhood poles are much shorter? There is actually a lot happening above your head. The height of a power line has to account for electrical clearance, the weight of the conductor, wind, temperature, sag, tower strength, vehicles, trees, and even lightning. And then there is another question: if overhead lines need so much space, why don't we simply bury them underground? The answers reveal how electrical engineering became a careful balance between safety, physics, cost, and practicality. Look up. There is more engineering in those wires than you might think. #PowerLines #ElectricalEngineering #Engineering #Electricity #PowerGrid #TransmissionLines #PowerTransmission #EngineeringExpl

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